North Cascades National Park

18 Jul 2013               North Cascades National Park

            Getting to the North Cascades was an easy jaunt.  We dropped off Austin at his brother’s house in Bellingham, showered up, thank God (thanks Jessica!), hit up Boundary Bay Brewery, and headed to the mountains.  We left Bellingham on Chuckanut Drive, which was as beautiful as heavily advertised, and set up camp in Lone Fir Campground in the National Forest east of North Cascades National Park.  That night we planned our trail running adventure for the next day.  Katherine’s leg was feeling better, but we did not want to pick anything too crazy, just in case.  We decided on a 7 mile loop trail around Ann Lake, and went to sleep.

This is the drive back up the mountain to the lake. No joke.  It was this nice!

Here's a shot of the camp at Lone Fir. 

            That night, Katherine did not sleep well.  We were set up in our hammocks, right next to each other.  I put my earplugs in and didn’t hear another thing until morning.  Katherine kept hearing a big animal snapping branches in the brush next to us.  Being in bear country, of course her mind decided a bear was coming.  The animal came into the campsite and continued to stomp around while Katherine held her breath.  After not hearing anything for some time, Katherine decided to go back to sleep.  The next time she woke, a deer was staring through the bug net into her hammock.  Not expecting a deer about 5 inches from her face, she yelled and the deer ran off.  The crazy deer came back and stalked Katherine all night.  There were hoof prints all around her hammock.  I think she was hanging in the place it usually beds down, or maybe she is the deer whisperer.

            The next morning we suited up, and drove to the Ann Lake trail head.  What a beautiful trail run!  After climbing steeply through the forest for about a mile or two, we got our first view of the lake.  For the next 2 or 3 miles the trail circled the deep blue alpine lake, then the trail descended through the forest again.  There were just a few patches of snow left, and they were not treacherous to cross.  We had blue bird skies and comfortable temperatures.  We were happy we picked this trail. 

The wildflowers were out in full glory just for us.  So we thought. 

            The next morning we decided to move a little closer to Spokane, and camped near Sherman Pass.  There were a zillion bugs; a huge, raucous redneck family next to us; and another camper warning us he was stalked by a mountain lion or wolf the entire night before.  Boo-yeah!

            Next stop: Spokane.  I hope the Ensers are ready for us.